taking on something challenging...

and not just not falling on my face with it, but actually doing it well enough to be told, "you know what?  This is gonna be good.  You can do it!"

And what exactly is "it?"  I've been working up singing some new songs lately... going with the rock/alternative genre to get out of my comfort zone and challenge me vocally.  I chose the song My Immortal by Evanescence for the fact that I love the song and I knew it would be a piece that was going to stretch my vocal abilities.  As Philip and I were practicing last night, he asked if there was another Evanescence song we can ADD to the current song list.  We took a look at YouTube and pulled up Bring Me To Life and listened to it to remember which song it was.  As soon as I heard it, I was like, "No way!!  There is no way I can cover that song... totally out of my vocal range."  So, Philip said, "Just give it a try.  Sing along with the video and into the mic and let me hear."  Well, I did and holy cow it wasn't bad... it was actually good and we've added it to our set list...along with My Immortal!!!  Wahoo for taking risks!!

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."

 ~Muhammad Ali

books

.

...because I love to read.  I love to learn.  I love expanding my imagination through the words on the page before me...  BOOKS RULE!!

“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” 

~ Marcus Tullius Cicero

Kindness

In this moment, I am feeling an immense gratitude for the generosity of loving kindness received from seeing a friend at church that I haven't seen in a very long time.  What a real treat to see you this morning, Marie!!

Creative Endeavors

I put together a photo montage video yesterday of the first MY Session held by MY Music Yoga this past June.  Here is the end result which I am completely pleased with.  Happy viewing!!

"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort."

~Franklin D. Roosevelt

Low Country Boil

My sweetie, Philip, told me this morning that he's going to cook dinner for me tonight... a low country boil!  A week ago today we were in Savannah and that's what we had for dinner.  It was delicious!!

Actually, we had a date night last night to record some music and then come home for a low country boil dinner.  Our plans had to change because we had to go to out to Galilee to take care of some things for some campers that are there right now.  I decided I wasn't going to let the change ruin our night.  We took care of what we needed to take care of.  We did it together as a team... no complaints.

And tonight... I get my low country boil and I get to share it with sweetie!!!  Yay!!

You gotta learn to just go with the flow of life and good things will come to you.

spontaneous fun!

My sweet love, Philip, and I are on our vacation headed down to Orlando, Florida.  We stopped into Charleston yesterday and spent a little time at the battery.  He was taking a few photos of me when he spotted the kids climbing along the fence and then he said to me, "Get up there with them!"  At first, I was like, "No!"  But then I jumped in and had a blast with the kids!!  I'm so thankful for Philip bringing out the fun little girl inside of me yesterday.  Pure joy, sweetie!  I love you!!!

You can be childlike without being childish. A child always wants to have fun. Ask yourself, 'Am I having fun?'  ~Christopher Meloni

facing my fears

...for the courage it takes to face my fears (rowrrrrrr!)

...for deciding that I'm moving forward and will no longer be kept down

...for being strong in the face of doubt

...for acting with grace and kindness

...for the empowerment that comes with telling myself and the non-believers and the non-supporters, "Hey!  Guess what?  I'm here to STAY!!"

“When fear ceases to scare you, it cannot stay.”

~ Gary Zukav